“Are you really that delusional? That man is the same asshole who didn’t think anything of throwing his son down a flight of stairs! He’s a drunk and a coward!”
“You’re wrong. My father said he’s doing exceptionally well lately—he’s been making their company a lot of money. I don’t think he’s drinking as much.”
“Can’t you smell him? That stench wasn’t cologne!” I grab her arm, digging my fingers into her soft skin. It’s better than slapping the shit out of her the way I’m imagining. “I don’t know what you were hoping to accomplish by bringing him here, but I don’t ever want to see your face at another one of my shows—or anywhere—ever again. For the first time since we were kids at camp I’m actually happy. I don’t need you coming around, fucking everything up. Do you understand?”
“I’ll never understand what you see in her, especially when I would’ve been so much better for you.” Wiggling free, she quickly swipes a tear from her cheek. “If you change your mind about talking with your dad, he booked the penthouse suite at the Scholar on State Street.” She rises on her toes to kiss my cheek. “Goodbye, Roman.”
As she walks away, I pull at the roots of my hair until my eyes water. Why in the hell did my old man agree to come along with her? I still question going after him and giving him the kind of beating he deserves. It’d be worth serving time in jail to see him break a fraction of the way he broke me.
I slam my knuckles into the cement wall, pain and frustration releasing with a deep roar. I do it over and over until my fist smolders with pain and blood coats my skin.
As I’m cradling my hand to my chest, Normie comes tearing around the corner. “What the hell is going on in here? Why aren’t you with the rest of the band, mingling with fans?”
With a new surge of anger, I grab him by the collar of his shirt. “Why did you say that shit to Belle about my stutter?”
“I was doing you a favor! I knew that girl would be trouble from day one!” His lips tighten with a scowl, and he pokes his finger into my chest. “You hired me to manage this band, so I’m managing it! I’m not paid to babysit ill-behaved rockstars and further their girlfriends’ careers!”
“I’m starting to think I made a mistake when I hired you!”
“So what are you going to do about it? You know damn well this entire tour would fold without me!”
I let go of his shirt to rub at my throbbing temples. It’s pretty fucking ironic that I’ve built up a successful career to have the rest of my life fall apart. As I follow him from the green room, I text Belle yet again.
Where are you?
Per usual the groupies waiting to meet the band are primarily women of all ages, a few who have the nerve to cop a feel when we’re posing for pictures. They ask too many questions and openly flirt until I’m grimacing with their unwarranted touches. Normie gets on my ass a few times, telling me I have to smile for pictures, but ever since the meeting with my father it’s like there’s a black hole pulling me under. And I still haven’t heard from Belle since we talked about our relationship going public. I keep checking my phone, but the last several texts I sent to her remain unanswered.
I finally catch a break when Nicki appears with a fresh spread of snacks for the fans.
“Hey, Nick!” I call out, running over to her. “Have you seen Belle?”
“Not since a while ago.” Setting the tray down on the table, her lips turn down. “She was in the hallway talking to some older guy. I figured he was one of the band’s lawyers or something the way he was dressed. Their conversation looked pretty intense.”
My back stiffens and the hairs on my neck spring to life. “Was he wearing a navy blazer and tan dress pants, this tall, brown hair?” I hold my hand up to my father’s height as a roiling heat swells in my chest.
Nicki nods, lowering her gaze. “Yeah. Is that bad?”
Bile rises into my throat, hot and thick. What the hell would my old man have said to her?
“I wanted to interrupt them and ask Belle if she was okay,” Nicki continues in a rush of words, “but she ran off before I had a chance. Looked like she was headed back for the bus. I wish I could’ve gone after her, but I had to finish preparing for this.”
I bolt from the room, ignoring her when she calls my name. I don’t acknowledge Reggie when he asks where I’m going either. My heart hammers against my ribcage as I sprint out to the bus through the pouring rain. A sense of urgency climbs up my throat until it feels like I’m choking.